Life-boat.



P. LOEWEN.

LIFE BOAT. APPLlcAnoN FILED MAY s. 1916.

Patented 1160.519111.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

P. LOEWEN. LIFE son.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. |916.

Patented Dec. 5,1916.

'Inde/@Lof CWI] nu.' uomz's runs :o maro un P. LoEwEN. LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION' FILED MAY 6. ISIS.

1,206,873. Patented Dec. 5,1916.

P. LOEWEN. LIFE son. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. i916.

1 ,206,873. Patented Dec. 5, I9l6.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

In df/fior:

LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No. 95,926.

To, all whom t maycoacem Be it known that I7 PETER LonwnN, a subject ofjthe King" of England, residing at Reinland, in theProvince of Manitoba and 5 Dominion of- Canada, have invented certain Vnew and useful*Improvements in Life-Boats,

ofwhich the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in inclosed life-boats l and the primary object of my invention is to provide in a compact, strong and durable v and safe structure, an improved life-boat.

Another objeetof my'invention is toprovide a life-boat of the-class described havljing :improved steering means associated therewith, said steering means being adapted to be moved into and out of operative position when desired. l

A further object of my invention is to provide a life-boat of the class described vhaving side portions thereof formed to acveommodate propelling means-such 'as oarsor the-like. v v

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved Ventilating means for the boat and improved'entrance and exit lmeans therefor'.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use oi' my improved life- .boat will appear from the following detail description and the claims, `taken with an .inspection of the accompanying drawings, in

which z- Figurel is aside elevation of alifefboat embodying the improvements; of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional .view gtakenonfthegline 2-2pf Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is --an enlarged v,vertical sectional view taken on the@1ine,;3-- 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. eL is avertical r sectional -v.View of an .improved ventilator which Iemploy. Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view of the entrance member partly ,open showing the improved latch means therefor. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail ele` vational view of the propelling attachment. Fig. y7 is an enlargedvertical sectional view -of the stern of the boat showing my im- `provedcollapsible rudder. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lthe line 50.8.-8 of'Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a similar view taken.` on'the line-9 9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a .fragmental sectional view of a modied form ofy seat -foruse in my improved lifeboat.

Referring more particularly to the .draw- ;-,insS=-.Whe1feiesimilar .characters of. reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 1 designates the hull of my improved life-boat, the same being formed substantially semi-cylindrical and having' a top section 2 riveted as at-3 to said section l. The section 1 is provided on the forward end with an upwardly extending shield portion 4, the portion 4 being provided with a removable frame 5 having a port hole therein to permit the pilot -or other persons steering the boat to obtain a clear view ahead. The hull l provided with a plurality of port holes 7 of the construction described in detail hereinafter, certain of said port holes being arranged adjacent the juncture between the Vbottom and top sections of the boat. A pair `of loops 8 are carried at the forward andthe rear ends of the hull l whereby the boat may be hoisted to position on avship.

` Entrance and exit means is provided Von the top section 2 in the form of a turret 9 riveted at l0 to said section and having a hinged closure 11 permitting ingressand egress oi the passengers. I provide means 'for sealing the closure 11 said means being bestshown in Fig. 5 and including a rod'12 carried by the closure 11 and having'the head 13. A lever 14 pivotedpat 15 onthe bracket 16 carried by the section2 isformed with a slot 17 for engaging with the head 13 when the closure is in the closed position. A pair of ladders 18 aremonnted onvthe upper portion 2 of the boat Ito permitpassengers to climb aboard the boataftelgthe same-has been launched. A ladder A1.8 is provided inside of theyboat by means of which the passengers may gain the floori/or :deck 22 from ,the entrance. Handrails 19 may be provided on the top section 2 for an obviouspurpose. The bottom section g1 of the boat is formed with a tapering portion Q0 forming a keel. This prevents undue rolling of theboat in a heavy sea.

`The interior arrangement oi' the life-,boat is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. For ytheaccommodation of passengers, I provide seats 21 arranged along the side portions .of the boat on a deck or floor 22. An aisle is thus formed between the rows of seats 21 permitting those in charge of the boat to pass to one end of the boat from the other Without inconvenience. lF ood and Water compartments 23 may be arranged beneath the seats21 asbest ,shownin Fig. 3. Ballast tanks124 .maybe arranged beneath theflesk 22 for an obvious purpose. A. bilge pump 25 having an outlet 26 serves the purpose of removing water from the space beneath the deck 22.

plurality of ventilating members 28 are provided in the top section 2, said ventilating members being best shown in Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 4, the ventilator preferably comprises a supporting cone 29 riveted at 30 to the inner wall of the section 2. The cone is provided with a plurality of openings 31 permitting ventilation. A threaded bushing is carried by the lower end of the cone 29 and a screw having a hand wheel 34 on the free end thereof engages in said bushing. A closure member is carried by the upper end of the screw 33 having universal connection therewith by means of a ball and socket joint 36. The closure member 35 is adapted to engage an annular angle iron 37 when in closed position and it will thus be seen that the ventilation of the boat may be controlled from the interior thereof by rot-ating the screw 33 to raise and lower the closure member 35. The universal joint 36 insures even engagement of the closure mem ber with the angle iron 37.

For the accommodation of luggage in the form of clothes andthe like for the passengers, l provide the compartment 39 formed in the section 2, by means of the partition 40 extending transversely of said section 2 and longitudinally of the boat. Double doors 41 hinged at 42 serve to permit access to the compartment 39. A latch 43 serves to maintain the doors in closed position.

ln order to propel my improved life-boat, the port holes 7 are preferably removably arranged in the section 1, whereby to accommodate the oars 45, said oars having associated therewith annular bearing members 46 retainable in position by means of the rings 47, a flexible water excluding web 43 being connected with oars Vand with said rings 47. lt will thus be seen that free movement of the oar is permitted without the danger of ingress of the water or the like.

Referring now to the steering mechanism, of my improved life-boat, best shown in Figs. 7 to 9, I form the lower portion 1 of the boat with a chamber 49, the water eX- cluding partition 50 forming said chamber. The object of my improved collapsible rudder is to enable the life-boat to be packed or stored on a vessel in a minimum amount of space, and at the same time to provide a rudder which would when in operative position, serve to effectively control the course of the life-boat. The rudder proper designated 51 is provic ed with a casting 52 pivotally connected at 53 with the rudderstock 54 which is in turn journaled in a rudder port 5,5 formed in the partition 50.

A tiller 56 may be detachably carried by the upper end of the rudder-stock for steering the boat from the rear end. However, the preferred arrangement of the steering mechanism includes a pulley 57 carried by and rotatable with the rudder-stock and over which is trained the steering cable 58, said steering cable extending lengthwise of the boat and communicating with the steering wheel 59 mounted in the forward portion of the boat. Suitable idlers 60 serve to accommodate the cable and guide the same adjacent the turns. l provide means 'for shipping and unshipping the rudder, that l is, means for swinging the rudder from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the operative position indicated in dotted lines in the same figure. Said rudder shifting mechanism comprises preferably a rod 61 pivotally connected at 61 to a bracket member 62 which is pivotally connected as at 62 with the rudder 51 and passing through a water-tight packing device 63 carried in the partition 50. The inner end of the'rod 61 is pivotally connected at 64 with a lever 65 mounted at 66 and having the locking member 67 engageable with the recesses 68 of a segment 69. N hen the lever is swung rearwardly and forwardly, the rudder 51 will'be moved to a position clear of the stern portion of the boat into the dotted line position ready for use. A plurality of stops 70 are formed on the stern of the boat for engagement with a flange member 71 car ried by the rudder whereby the outward movement of the rudder will be limited. Of course, it will be understood that the stop member 71 does not interfere with the proper rotation of the rudder to steer the boat. The stop member 71 is carried by the rudder by means of loops 72 engaging through stop member secured therein by means of pins 73. This engagement permits renewal of the stop member 1n the event of 1 breakage or the like.

It will be seen that my improved life-boat may be installed on large vessels and in the event of sinking of the large vessel,'the entrance member 11 may be opened and the passengers permitted to enter the life-boat. The entrance member is now closed and when the vessel sinks, the life boat will float free therefrom. Should any of the passenzdccurs and are unable to reach the life-boat, these passengers may be taken up later, the ladders 18 permitting persons in the water to climb aboard the life-boat. l do not limit myself to any particular shape of the boat nor to any particular size or material employed in building the boat, since this can be best determined from reducing the device to actual practice.

Referring to Fig. l0, I have provided a modified form of seat arranged transversely Oers be thrown into the sea, if an accidentl of the boat and comprising a seat board 7 5 fastened to the sides of the bottom l of the boat. A vertically arranged strengthening board 76 is arranged beneath said seat board along the longitudinal center thereof and it will be apparent that this form of seat materially strengthens the hull of my improved life-boat.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described my invention as embodying a speeific structure, I desire that it be understood that I may make such changes in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A life-boat comprising a normally closed shell, a casing formed in the stern portion of said shell and opening outward, a rudder shaft journaled in said casing, a rudder carried by said rudder shaft and movable with relation thereto, said rudder being normally disposed entirely within said casing, means connecting said casing and rudder for moving the latter with relation to the former, and means carried by said easing and rudder for limiting the extent of said movement.

2. A life-boat comprising a normally closed shell, a easing formed in the stern portion of said shell and opening outward, a rudder shaft journaled in said casing, a rudder carried by said sh'aft, a lever carried by said casing and connected to said rudder for moving the same longitudinally of said casing, and means carried by said casing and rudder for limiting their relative movement.

3. A life-boat comprising a normally closed shell, a casing formed in the stern portion of said shell and opening outward, lugs carried by said easing and projected into the 'open portion thereof, a rudder shaft journaled in said easing, a rudder carried by said shaft, a plate hinged to the inner edge of said rudder for engagement with the said lugs to limit the outward Inovement of said rudder, and a lever carried by said casing and connected to said rudder for moving the same longitudinally of said casing'.

1l. A rudder for ships, including in combination with a ships hull having the chamber at the stern thereof open to the seat, a rudder section, a rudder-post, said seetion being pivotally connected to said post, means for rotating the post, at times, means pivotally associated with said rudder and extending within the hull to swing the rudder into and out of said chamber, and stop means associated with said rudder.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

PETER LOEWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

